3.4.2 Placements in Foster Care

AMENDMENT

This chapter was significantly amended in October 2011 and should be read in its entirety.

Decision to Look After and Initial Referral
The Matching of Children with Placements
Placements with Independent Fostering Agency Carers
Emergency and Out of Hours Placements
Out of Borough Placements

Appendix 1: Matching Form

1. Decision to Look After and Initial Referral

Before a decision is made to Look After a Child, Social Workers are required to follow procedures set out in Decision to Look After Procedure.

Once the decision has been reached on principle, Social Workers are expected to contact the Placement and Procurement Service and complete a PIR Form and attend a Care Planning Panel.

2. The Matching of Children with Placements

The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations - 2010 - Part 3 Placements - general provisions provides:

Children in their 4th Key Stage of education, should not be placed where this would have the effect of disrupting their educational arrangements.
Children should not be placed outside of their local area wherever possible unless to do so is appropriate to meet their care needs.

Sufficiency Guidance 2010 outlines the need for Local Authorities to maximise local provision.

Any deviation from the above must be approved by Senior Management (see Care Planning Panel).

Taken from Standard 15 - Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards 2011.

The responsible authority has information and support from the fostering service which it needs to facilitate an appropriate match between the carer and child, capable of meeting the child’s needs and consistent with the wishes and feelings of the child, so maximising the likelihood of a stable placement.

The fostering service only suggests foster carers to local authorities as a potential match for a child if the foster carer can reasonably be expected to meet the child’s assessed needs and the impact of the placement on existing household members has been considered. Where gaps are identified, the fostering service should work with the responsible authority to ensure the placement plan sets out any additional training, resource or support required.
Prior to the placement of each child, the foster carer is provided with all the information held by the fostering service that they need to carry out their role effectively. The information is provided in a clear, comprehensive written form and includes the support that will be available to the foster carer. The fostering service follows up with the responsible authority any gaps in the information provided to them on the child or the child’s family, which may hinder the foster carer in providing a safe caring environment that meets the child’s needs and enables them to keep the child, other children in the fostering household and the foster carer him/herself safe.

Once placed, a child is not removed from a foster carer who is willing and able to continue caring for the child, unless that is in their best interests, taking the child’s current wishes and feelings into account, and decided (other than in an emergency) through the child’s care planning process. If a placement move occurs in an emergency the fostering service inform the responsible authority within one working day.

Placement of Children with carers who smoke: Lewisham has adopted the policy that children under five years should not be placed with carers who smoke because of the potential risk to health.

Also see BAAF Practice Note 51: Reducing the Risks of Environmental Tobacco Smoke for Looked After Children and their Carers.

2.1 Setting up a Lewisham Foster Placement

Normally, placements will be progressed in accordance with the decisions of a Placement Planning Meeting, see the Care Planning Panel which meets weekly.

Where the circumstances prevent attendance at the Care Planning Panel, then, the Placements and Procurement Service will endeavour to find a suitable foster carer only upon completion of a PIR and authorisation from a Service Manager (and the case must be submitted to the next Care Planning Panel). Lewisham fostering placements will be considered as the first option where a connected person placement is not identified.

If no Lewisham foster carer is available, then consideration will be given to the use of a Preferred Provider Framework placement.

Referrers are to complete the PIR giving as much detail as possible, including relevant reports, and this should be emailed to the Placements and Procurement Service.

If the referrer is wishing to give prior notice of a possible referral before going out on a visit, it may be acceptable for them to give basic information (age, gender, ethnic origin of child) on the understanding that a full PIR will be completed once the referral is confirmed and search authorised by the Care Planning Panel or in an emergency a Service Manager.

The Placements and Procurement Service should keep the referrer updated, as appropriate.

The Social Worker should be clear at the outset that the placement is able to meet any special requirements such as transporting the child/escorting, keeping medical appointments, and contact arrangements.

The Placements and Procurement Service should discuss with the Fostering Team Manager if they have any doubts as to the suitability of the referral e.g. fire raising concerns; history of foster placement disruptions.

The Placements and Procurement Service will then match the child to an available foster carer and discuss same with either the Supervising Social Worker or the Fostering Team Manager. Particular attention should to be given to the needs of any other children, both birth and fostered. No foster child should share a bedroom where there are serious issues of abuse.

When considering a match the following should be considered:

Each child placed has his/her own cot/bed and accommodation arrangements reflect the child's assessed needs for privacy and space or any specified need resulting from a disability
If it is thought that a child/young person has been abused or has abused another child/young person (by abuse this will be sexual, significant physical abuse or bullying of any other children) then the child's needs and the needs of all other children in the Home are assessed before any decision is made to allow sharing of bedrooms. Only siblings are permitted to share bedrooms.
If a recommendation is made that a child who has been abused or has abused another should share a bedroom then a risk assessment should be completed by the Placement and Procurement Service in conjunction with the child's Social Worker and the foster Carer's Supervising Social Worker. A copy of the risk assessment should be filed on the foster Carer and child/young person's file
The risk the child/young person's Parents might pose to the child/young person, the foster Carer and any others in their household in terms of contact.
Any other risks that might be posed to the foster Carer and any others in their household
The views of the Social Worker of the child already in placement (if any) should be sought
An up to date assessment, and or knowledge of the foster Carer should be considered
The approval category of the foster Carers concerned
The child/young person's racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic needs are matched as closely as possible with the ethnic origin, race, religion, culture and language of the foster family. The Placement Plan/Placement Information Record should outline how the unmet needs of the child/young person's will be met
The stability of any existing children with the foster Carers

Trans-racial or trans-cultural placements should only be made when the foster family, with appropriate support and guidance. When considering the appropriateness of such a placement the Fostering Team should consider the following factors:

The assessed needs of the child as defined by the child/young person's Social Worker in the PIR form.
The age and understanding of the child.
The previous life experiences of the child and their family.
The wishes and feelings of the child and their family.
The assessed skills and knowledge base of the fostering family.
The length of time a placement is required.
The geographical location of the placement or any alternatives and the potential disruption to education and contact, which any alternative placement may involve.
The available alternatives to the placement and the child's assessed needs to be in a family.
The support that can be provided for the child and Carer that give the placement opportunity for success
The cost of any alternative.

The Placements and Procurement Service will contact the identified foster carer to share all known information and discuss whether the child is a good match, given any other child care commitments they may have. It is important to be clear about all contact issues and to check what the foster carer is able to manage, not just in the short term. It may then be possible to negotiate tasks with the Social Worker.

Where difficulties with the child's Parents are anticipated these should be shared with the foster carer and strategies developed to address issues, in advance.

The foster carer should be given some time in which to decide whether to accept the placement; it may be appropriate to convene a Pre-Placement Planning Meeting. Where a placement is required in an emergency, there may not be a great deal of time to decide. Nevertheless they should be able to discuss this decision with their partner or other children in the household, and if available with their Supervising Social Worker and/or Fostering Team Manager. If the foster carer is willing to offer a placement, the Placements and Procurement Service will arrange for them to receive additional information from the child's Social Worker or previous carers, as appropriate.

If a foster carer decides on the basis of the information they have been given, that they are unable to offer this particular child a placement, it is important to note their reasons for making this decision. If appropriate this information should be passed on to the Supervising Social Worker.

If the foster carer is able to offer a placement, the Placements and Procurement Service will inform the child's Social Worker. In the case of an emergency detailed arrangements will then be made for the child to be moved to the foster carer, paying particular attention to the need for comforters where appropriate. It is best practice that wherever possible introductions take place before any placement commences.

If some delay is encountered in confirming a placement with an identified foster carer, the vacancy should be reserved until the situation is clarified; this prevents any other child being placed. If the delay is longer than 72 hours, the Placements and Procurement Service needs to request financial approval for the foster carer to be paid a retainer.

If at the introductions stage, the foster carer has any reservations about the placement progressing, they should immediately contact their Supervising Social Worker, or the Fostering Team Manager, who will liaise with the Placements and Procurement Service.

Once a placement is made, the referral papers need to be passed to a Business Process Officer for processing.

2.2. Information to be given to the foster Carer prior to placement

Prior to the child moving to a foster Carer, or at the time of placement, the foster Carer should receive the following:

PIR and child’s chronology
Copies of any Court Orders in force
If the child is Accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act the foster Carer should expect to receive a copy of the Parent's signed Agreement
Signed medical consent
Care Plan
Details about contact arrangements
Placement Plan

If the foster Carer is not given any of the above information, they should inform their Supervising Social Worker. In cases where the placement of the child is required in an emergency, this may not be possible. Where this is the case, the foster should still expect to receive signed medical consent and the Parent's consent to Accommodation, where appropriate, and Essential Information.

There should be a Placement Plan meeting within five working days of the placement commencing if one was not held prior to the placement.

3. Placements with Independent Fostering Agency Carers

3.1 Actions by Placements Service

In situations where there is no suitable Lewisham foster Carer able to offer a placement the Placement & Procurement Service will advise the child's Social Worker. They will establish whether or not they have the Service Unit Managers agreement for the use of a private fostering agency on the Preferred Provider Framework list, and authorisation from the Care Planning Panel. .

Once this had been obtained, the Placement and Procurement Service will contact an appropriate independent fostering provider and give details of the referral.

The Placement and Procurement Service will give clear brief details to the agencies either by telephone or email.

If this search is unsuccessful, the Placement and Procurement Service will inform the Social Worker, who will, after consultation with their Manager, advise whether they wish the referral to be kept in the system or whether to seek agreement for a non-PPF placement.

The Placement and Procurement Service will check that there is sufficient information in the referral and reports and fax to the identified agency. If information is insufficient the Placement and Procurement Service will go back to the Social Worker to fill any gaps.

If a possible match is then offered, the Placement and Procurement Service will check whether the this Carer has been used before. If this is the case the File / Form F should be retrieved from the private agency Carers file system. Updated documentation may need to be requested.

If this Carer has not been used before the Form F should be requested and other necessary documentation, including the Annual Review, from the agency and passed on to the Placements and Procurement Manager. The Placements and Procurement Manager will complete the matching form. This ensures that all checks/annual reviews are received and up-to-date.

The Placements and Procurement Manager checks a number of areas, including whether there are any other placements, and whether there are any concerns or issues which would question the suitability of making a placement with them. The Placements and Procurement Manager will also ensure the Report is up to corporate quality standards.

When all the above is complete, the Placements and Procurement Manager will make the final decision as to whether the match is suitable.

3.2 Action if Placement and Procurement Manager gives Approval to the Match

The Placement and Procurement Service will contact the Social Worker giving them details of the identified resource. The Social Worker should read the Form F.

In the event of an emergency placement, if the Social Worker agrees to accept it, the Placement and Procurement Service should provide them with details of the Carer/s and Agency. The Placement and Procurement Service should request they discuss practical arrangements direct with the Agency and report back.

The Placement Officer will contact the Agency providing them with the Social Worker's details and request they liaise directly with them re practicalities and any immediate needs of the child/ren.

If a Social Worker agrees to accept a planned placement, depending on the timeframe/practical arrangements to visit, the Agency may request a retainer/full fee be paid from a particular date. The Social Worker needs to be aware that the consequences of not booking a placement could be to lose it.

N.B. The Duty Manager's approval is specific to the child / young person referred and is not a general approval for use.

3.3 Action if Placements and Procurement Manager does not Approve the Match

Reasons will be given on the Private Agency Front Sheet. The Placement and Procurement Service will advise both the Agency and the child's Social Worker and continue to identify alternatives.

Private Agency Form F's not used should be destroyed via the confidential waste.

4. Emergency and Out of Hours Placements

The Emergency Duty Team in Lewisham will notify both the Placements Service and the appropriate service for the child, next working day of all placements made out of hours.

On receipt of notification from the Emergency Duty Team that a placement has been made the relevant service holding the child's case must immediately begin the process of assessing that the child's needs are met in accordance with the procedures and appropriate to their circumstances.

Particular attention should be paid to the duties owed to the Parents/family with respect to contact and information, subject to the best interests of the child/ren, and to planning to place the appropriate framework, either of the child's voluntary Accommodation or placement in Care, around the placement

All children placed out of hours by the Emergency Duty Team should be the subject of discussion the next working day between the Placements and Procurement Service and the Service holding the child's case as to whether the child requires a placement for a longer period, and whether the foster carers terms of approval are suitable to permit care of the child. If the terms of approval are not consistent with the needs of the child then the placement should not continue beyond six days.

5. Out of Borough Placements

Consideration must be given by the Service Manager and/or CPP to authorise out of borough placements in accordance with Sufficiency guidance.

The Business Process Manager is responsible for ensuring that the relevant Local Authority for an out-of Borough placement with a Lewisham approved foster carer is notified of the placement of a Lewisham child under Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011.

Where the placement is an Independent Provider out of Borough the Business Process Manager is responsible for ensuring the Local Authority responsible for approving the Independent Agency foster carers is notified of the dates the placement commences and ceases in accord with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011.

Appendix 1: Matching Form

Click here to view Appendix 1: Matching Form.

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